I am fascinated by song stories...the glimpses of composers' lives that their creations permit us to see, although oftentimes not so readily. Here are my my "scoops", posted here for your enjoyment, and for what I hope will feed our mutual curiosity about His musical purposes for us. Join me in this history adventure, as we find what circumstances coalesced to create the songs we all love! Play detective with me, and tell me what song "scoops" you may know that I don't...yet.

About Me

Saturday, April 30, 2016

It may
be the only song she ever wrote, and perhaps the circumstances of its conception
made her feel that it was her last. Louisa Stead said “Tis So Sweet to Trust in
Jesus” in 1880 as the result of a broken heart, but also from a faith that
allowed her to survive a personal tragedy. What started as a family’s relaxing,
recreational day at a Long Island beach (perhaps not too far from Montauk Point
on Long Island, shown here) turned into perhaps the worst day of Stead’s life. She
could not have known that the dark cloud that hovered over her at that place
would somehow also have a silver lining, that out of her loss would spring
something that the Providential Creator could use for good. Could it be that
the bitter nature of the events at the beach pushed Louisa toward something
sweet, something to salve the hurt she felt? What was it she found that
evidently allowed her to go on in life?

As a
30-year-old wife and young mother, Louisa Stead’s life was at a pivotal point in
1880, in more ways than one. She’d emigrated to America from England at age 21,
and had a strong urge to pursue mission work in China, which she had to
postpone for health reasons. Instead, nine years later she had married and had
a four-year-old daughter, a family life she was apparently enjoying as they picnicked
at a beach on Long Island one day. The happiness ended abruptly when her
husband reportedly drowned trying to save a small boy that day. Some accounts
further suggest Louisa’s and her daughter Lily’s resulting poverty, and God’s
answer to take care of their needs, helped spawn the poem she wrote in the wake
of this trial. This episode would also initiate a series of events with other
people in Louisa’s life that likely otherwise would not have occurred. Louisa took
her youngster and set out for mission work in southern Africa following their
loss, a tangible sign that Louisa did in fact still feel the pull of God’s
purposes on her life, despite the calamitous event that had just taken place. She
remarried Robert Wodehouse while in South Africa, and the two of them would
return to America 15 years later due to her recurring health challenges, though
they both would travel back to Rhodesia in Africa to resume mission work there
several years later. During the interim in America, where Louisa received
treatment and recovered, Wodehouse ministered at a local church. And, many
years later, her daughter Lily would continue the missionary work in the same
region in Africa, following Louisa’s retirement once again because of health. So,
even though Louisa’s life had a moment of great misfortune, what happened in
its aftermath directly altered the paths of at least two other people—Lily and
her stepfather Robert—and many others indirectly on two continents. And, we
still have the hymn that Louisa wrote over 136 years later, a blessing that another
missionary in the Rhodesia region reported natives still sang in their own
language in 1917.

Had Louisa
forgotten the events on Long Island some 30 years later, in a faraway place?
Someone might say she was trying to escape and forget, to forever put behind
her, seeing her husband drown in the Atlantic Ocean. But, apparently a song just
cannot be easily dismissed. Nor can its meaning, especially if it’s the only
one I ever write – as is apparently true with Louisa Stead. Louisa must have
shared with her African friends why she composed those words about sweetly
trusting Jesus. They weren’t just syllables spilling from her lips, but a vow
from deep within. Terrible things might happen in anyone’s life, but that doesn’t
silence God. He still communicates, viscerally (inside my being) and
relationally (with others). I just have to let Him be heard.

See more
information on the song story in these sources: TheComplete Book of
Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J.
Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006; Amazing
Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1990; 101 Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1985; and Then Sings My Soul – 150 of the World’s
Greatest Hymn Stories, Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

This
Philadelphian had some lofty goals as a 36-year old, particularly interesting
because she could have laid down and moped because of what befell her early in
life. It was a physical challenge and the resulting handicapped condition in
which Eliza Hewitt found herself that in part triggered her penmanship of “More
About Jesus” one year as she lay convalescing. So when she thought of more that
she wanted to do to allow God to mold her, no one would have blamed her if she
had begun by saying she would submit to Him if He’d first heal her physically. But,
reading what she wrote makes one think the opposite had dawned on her emotionally
and devotionally, almost as if she’d already acquired something from the Great
Healer, though still aggravated physically. Is her response typical or in fact
providential? See what you think.

Eliza
Edmunds Hewitt was a teacher, in more ways than one in 1877. She began as a
public school teacher soon after graduating from school herself with her class’s
highest honors, so it might have appeared her future as an educator was bright.
But, what happened soon thereafter, when a spinal condition—perhaps precipitated
by a student’s assault--laid her out, might have imperiled her status and prospects,
at least according to conventional wisdom. Yet, it is said her invalid
condition was what spurred her drawing closer to the God she wanted to serve.
She eventually recovered some, and reportedly was able to do still more in active
ministry. Apparently, though, she had discovered her true mission in life
during the extended recuperation. Hymn-writing and poetry were the foundations
of her remaining life, dedicated to teaching others through the pen that she
wielded so prolifically. So, when she wrote “More About Jesus” perhaps it was
the taste of this new undertaking that had Eliza seeking more of what He wanted
to reveal to her. Could it have escaped the attention of those who knew her
that she wasn’t grumbling, but instead glowing? She is said to have been
studying all about Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s promises, a process that
compelled her upbeat attitude and soothed what otherwise might have been
self-pity. That’s an outlook that
likewise teaches others who observe, though the source—Eliza, in this case—was unable
to stand before a blackboard with chalk in hand. She also had family and friends—still more
evidence of God’s care for the challenged, like Eliza—who no doubt cheered her
on. Edgar Stites, another well-known composer at the time, was Eliza’s cousin,
and Hewitt also became close friends with Fanny Crosby, perhaps the most conspicuous
hymn lyrics composer of that era.

God is
good! One might even conclude that He’s especially so with those who hurt but
soldier on to further His cause. Eliza Hewitt was clearly one of those, one who
wanted more of Him, despite her own tests. She didn’t limit what she wanted to
discover, perhaps as she savored Him for the first time and realized there was
more, much more. Just count how many ‘mores’ she pictured in just four verses.
Book knowledge (i.e. Bible); understanding His will daily; comprehending His
nature more completely; being intimately involved with His mission; and
visualizing in detail eternity with Him – these were just some of what she says
in this concise space. There’s more she must have suspected, but could not
verbalize. She went to meet Him forever in 1920. You think she found more then?

See more
information on the song story in these sources: TheComplete Book of
Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J.
Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, 2006; Amazing
Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck,
Kregel Publications, 1990; and 101 More Hymn Stories, by Kenneth W.
Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1985.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

‘But,
“Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”’ (2 Corinthians 10:17)

You might suspect that this contemporary
composer spent a little time reading what an ancient predecessor once wrote
about bragging. Indeed, ‘brag’ may have been an uncommon word in the 1st
Century dictionary (used Biblically just once – Amos 4:5), but check out
‘boast’ -- 93 times in the Bible (in the
New International Version translation). And, half of those 93 times are words
written or repeated by one author – Paul. This ‘Hebrew of Hebrews’ was aware of
this character issue, aware of his pedigree (see first seven verses of
Philippians 3), and we can surmise that Randy Gill was too when he sat down and
wrote “Loved By You” a couple of years ago. Let’s consider how far boasting
gets a wrongdoer in an earthly courtroom (like the one shown here), versus
another type of room we’ll all see some day, where love is the operative factor.

It’s a revealing exercise, to research
someone’s background using our world’s internet, but one can learn only so
much. In Randy’s case, one gets the feeling that when he put pen-to-paper in
2014, he put his pedigree in the back seat and decided to boast about someone
else instead. That’s not to say that he didn’t draw upon his varied experiences
to craft this testimony. He’s been a blessed fellow – degrees from four higher
education schools, and faculty assignments at a like number of institutions,
and a well-earned reputation. One might say he’s a ‘Christian of Christians’,
echoing/paraphrasing Paul’s sentiments 2000 years ago. As to what motivated his
“Loved…” ode, Randy shared recently with this blogger this singular episode
that rings true for every believer…it needs no other introductory words:

‘That’s
a very special song for me. It was actually written during the hours I
spent at my father’s bedside as he was passing from this life to the next.
He had been ill for a couple of painful years and as his body slowly shut
down I found myself thinking about the spiritual legacy he had left me.
My father was a preacher who was known for his gentle and loving spirit.
From my earliest days I remember hearing him say that God loved us no
matter what. I spent quite a bit of time at his bedside with my guitar
singing hymns for him towards the end. The last few days he was
unresponsive and I found myself playing the same chords over and over again and
singing “I am loved by you.” It was both a statement about the love I had
experienced from the man who lay before me and the love of a Father who was
waiting to welcome my dad home. When I got back home after the funeral I
had the chorus but no verses. I was reading a little book of Puritan
prayers in my morning devotional time and one of them started with the words
“You have wept over me like Jerusalem.” I had never heard that image
before and it really resonated with me. As I read that prayer I pictured my
heavenly father doing the same (crying) over me. With that mental image
in mind the rest of the verses and bridge came relatively quickly.’

Wow. If we hadn’t heard Randy’s personal
reflection, we might conclude from his verses that he’s gotta work on that boasting part, and Perry
Mason might tell him he should highlight his own accomplishments, if he really
wants to defend himself adequately. Thankfully,
Randy’s not trying to usher me into a secular courtroom, but has me calling out to a judge whose throne room I long to enter – and,
incredibly, I can. That’s worth boasting about to others.

Despite human foibles, Randy Gill has
tapped into a crucial fact in “Loved by You”. His emotional psychology, emanating
from a deathbed watch and its aftermath, may have likewise lit his path in some
words he provided in a December 2015 interview, in which he talked about how
the believer is formed spiritually (see the link below). To sum it up, maybe
Randy wants me to realize that being loved by the Almighty revolutionizes my
worship, as I reprocess that love connection over and over again – as I sing ‘I
am loved by You’ repeatedly. It’s a spiritual formation—a transformation-transportation
that makes me heaven-bound, to join others like Randy’s dad--initiated by Him
upon my being, and it grows on me as I live and worship in various shades each
day. Gill talks about being able to worship despite the crummy mood I may be
in, versus the exuberance I might feel another day. In all these, He loves me, a fact that I can embrace, despite
even my death. Thanks Randy for sharing and for helping me boast about this,
and freeing me to be real before Him.

The composer’s song-story was shared in
an e:mail with this author-blogger on 19 April 2016. (Thank you Randy Gill!)